Learning Resources

Set book and CD or Cassette tape (your tutor will advise you about this in class)

Your tutor may provide:

Authentic materials such as menus, timetables, photos etc.

Handouts

Video or DVD

Internet (optional)

What can I expect to be doing in classes?

Working in a group to learn new vocabulary

Creating dialogues

Participating in games and quizzes

Completing reading and writing exercises

Listening to taped dialogues

Watching video or DVDs

Mnemonic strategies (learning how to improve memory skills)

How will my progress be measured?

Your tutor will:

assess you informally in class and give you immediate verbal feedback

Assess your work formally and give you both verbal and written feedback

Also:

You will be encouraged to keep a ‘diary’ of your experiences and consider your confidence, achievements and preferred learning styles

Accredited courses will be awarded with a certificate upon successful completion of the course requirements (your tutor will tell you more about this)

Is there an exam?

There is no exam for 'Improvers' courses.

You will be expected to complete a series of exercises in class which will be assessed by your tutor. These exercises are designed to measure your speaking and listening skills as well as your reading and writing skills. For example, one of your exercises may be to write a postcard in your chosen language; another may be to participate in a simple dialogue expressing likes and dislikes. This style of continuous assessment gives you the chance to realise and appreciate your own progress.

Course Proposals
Aims and Outcomes
What will I be learning?

Understand and use simple vocabulary in everyday use.

Understand and use set phrases in a fixed form expressing polite social conventions.

Understand and use simple numbers, prices and dates.

Understand and use past, present and future verb tenses

Understand and use simple positive and negative statements.

Understand and use simple question forms.

Understand and give simple instructions or orders.

Understand and use simple link words in sentences.

Use reference sources, for example, dictionaries or online tools, to clarify and confirm the meaning of words.

What materials will I need?

For your first lesson, bring:

lined paper, a biro (black or blue), pencil and eraser. If you have an A4 sized ring binder, this will be useful too.

Your tutor will advise you on which set books to buy and the recommended dictionary for the course, so don’t rush out and buy anything especially beforehand. You will also be advised of any other equipment you may need.

Do I need any prior knowledge?

Yes.

You will be expected to have a good command of the English language (although this need not be your first language), but no formal qualifications are required.

You will need to have successfully completed either a Beginners course in the chosen language or have a very basic knowledge of the language through prior studies or experience.

What happens if I miss a few lessons?

If you miss the odd lesson during the course, you will be issued with the missed handouts (you may be able to download them from the internet) and you will be given advice on what home study you should do to enable you to keep up.

What happens if I don’t complete the course?

If for some reason, you are unable to complete the course, you must inform either the tutor or the administrators in the office. Depending on how much work you have completed, you may be awarded a partial certificate for the credits that you achieved (accredited courses only). Refunding of fees will need to be discussed with the centre office, on an individual basis.

Please note, refunds, if awarded, may take up to 6 weeks to process if you paid via cheque or cash.

By the end of the course...what can I expect?

You can expect to:

be able to maintain a short dialogue with your tutor or a fellow learner on a number of topics

Listen to and understand predictable information when spoken at a realistic pace and extract facts from a number of different spoken sources

read, understand and extract information from at least 3 different written sources

Write at least 3 short pieces of at least 30 words each (either a postcard, memo, invitation, request for information etc)

have learned about some culture and traditions of the country

receive a certificate of achievement (on accredited courses only) or a certificate of attendance

In addition...

Lasting friendships

A sense of well deserved achievement

Motivation and confidence

Volunteering opportunities

We have a number of rewarding volunteering opportunities both within DALS and with other organisations. These can offer you a number of benefits, including the ability to enhance your employment prospects, and the ability to learn whilst supporting others. If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering opportunities, please contact Pat Ward on 01332 642308 or email pat.ward@derbyals.org You can also find information on volunteering opportunities on our noticeboards and website.

Venue Information

Derby Moor Academy

Address:

Moorway Lane, Derby, DE23 2FS

Parking:

Ample Car ParkingAmple Cycle Parking

Security:

Caretaker on site

Disability Support:

Disabled Access to
all floors/buildingDisabled ToiletsDisabled Parking available

Refreshments:

Limited FacilitiesDrinks Machine

Crèche:

Crèche Unavailable

Directions:

Blagreaves Lane turn into Moorway Lane and on right hand side.

Bus Routes:

5, 5A

Enrolment Information

Enrol Now

You can enrol onto this course now using our online secure website.
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In Person

If you would like more information about this course or wish to enrol, please contact via: